Remote control apparatus



Feb. 13, 1940. R. K. FRAZIER 2,190,447

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed NOV. 29, 1937 INVENTOR.

BYRADFORD K RAz/ER ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 13, 1940 i I 2,190,441 Ramon CONTROL APPARATUS Radford K. Frazier, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Bendix Radio Corporation, Chicago, 111., a, cor- .poration of Delaware I Application November 29, 1937, Serial No. 177,072 6 Claims. (Cl. nae-.02)

This invention relates toremote control 'appa- Figure 3 is a detail view showing the engageratus and deals particularly with electrically opment between the clutch members, the view being erated apparatus which is adapted to tune radio taken as indicated at 1ine 3 of Figure 1. transmitting or receiving sets from a remote po- As illustrated, A designates a movable control sition. The invention may be used in other situmember, B driving mechanisms, C, a clutch de- 5 ations for controlling the functioning of varitermining the connection of the motor for drivous types of devices. ing member A; and D, control mechanism for An object of the invention is to provide imcontrolling'the operation of clutch C.

proved remote control apparatus in which motor The movable control member A may be of any power is employed to eifect movement of the con suitable construction and may comprise the shaft 10 trolling mechanism and in which this movement It which may be rotatably mounted in any suitis positive, rapid and accurate. A further object able frame work" I I, fragments of which are is 'to provide means for quickly stopping the shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The shaft I0 movement of the control mechanism when ithas may be of any length and connected in any de- 15, reached some predetermined position correspondsired way to effect the adjustment of the coning with a particular function of the controlled trolled device. In the embodiment shown the J device. a 1 shaft is flattened as seen more clearly in Figure 2,

In apparatus of this. character where a motor so that disks, controlling arms, etc., maybe more supplies the motive power for driving the controlconveniently secured for angular movement with v ling member, a common objection is that the mothe shaft.

mentum of the motor tends to carry the control- If desired, some such device as is generally desling member beyondthe selected point. In tunignated by character l2 in Figure 1 may be proing a radio receiver ortransmitter to some previded"for resiliently holding the shaft in one ..or

7 determined frequency, though the motor be effecanother position when it is free from the driving tivefor quickly turning the tuning control shaft Um'echanism. As here shown, a plate Ila is held 5 to the proper angular position, it has been found against rotation with respect to the frame, and that the motor cannot be stopped at this point the annular spring member [3 is secured to shaft but, will coast on, urged by its own momentum In, One or more balls l4 spa'cethe spring memuntil when it finally comes to a stop the tuning ber13 from the plate I! and these balls may ridev point has been overshott -B w over spaced depressions (not shown) in plate I2. objectionable and destroys tuning accuracy. 7 Thus when the shaft is in such position that balls With a 7 view to overcoming the above-menl3 engage a depression, theshaft will not rotate tioned disadvantage, it isan object of this infurther unless suflicient power is applied to the Vention to Provide an improved c c h shaft to overcome the tension of spring. Othnism which will effectively disenga e the 11101301 er mechanisms might be substituted for device I2, from the controlling member after the desired for serving this particular purpose.

UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE movement has been effected, and thus prevent If desired, gearing mechanism 65 may be conadditional movement of the control member due nected with the shaft for driving any suitable into the momentum of the motor. f dicating device (notshown) to indicate the angu- A further object is to provide clutch mechalar position of the control shaft.

nism which will operate while the control mem- A gear 65 is secured to the shaft l0 and'meshes beris being driven, with minimumof. friction and with the. gear 65 Whose S a 57 is Journaled in with minimum actuating power, It is further the frame and has secured to its end the handle desired that such clutch; mechanism operate 68 which also serves as a pointer to indicate the 5 quickly and automatically-when the desired conangular position, of the shaft. -trol' position is reached. Other specific objects The drive shaft l'l, which is aligned with shaft will appear as thespecification'proceeds. i0, is driven through therreduction gearing and. Anembodiment of the invention is illustrated has secured thereto a gear 18 which is a part of in the accompanying drawing, in which: the clutch mechanism C. Gear l8 may be of any Figure 1 is a broken view. int side elevation and desired size and has about its periphery teeth I9 50 partly in section; 1 r which preferably have their faces inclined along Figure 2 is aschematic diagram showing the non-radial lines of the gear. The preferred form electrical circuits and connections, the view of the teeth is shown more clearly in Figure 3 showing the contact diskmounted on the control of the drawing.

' shaft; and The extreme end of shaft I0 is preferably jourgear I8 and with its lower portion bifurcated and extending in groove 22a of the collar 22. Collar 22 rides about the shaft sleeve 23, and is axially slidable along the shaft.

The end of the top portion 'of pivoted member 2| is provided with a depending toothed portion 24, the teeth of which correspond in form and size with teeth I9. I Depending portion 24 is adapted to engage with gear 18 when the pivoted member2l is tilted forwardly and is the clutch engaging member associated with the driven shaft Ill. The pivoted member 2| isnormally in its backwardly tilted position as shown in Figure 1 with the engaging member 24' out of engagement with gear I8. This normal position is main-.

' tained by a spring ca'rriedon arm 20 and urging the pivoted member into this rearward position.

The control mechanism D, by which control of the clutch mechanism is effected, includes an electromagnet 26 which may be mounted on the rangement of the mechanism is such that upon energization'of the electromagnet armature 21 is pulled downwardly causing'the upper end of arm 21a, and also collar 22, to be moved rearwardly axially of the shaft l0. Rearward movement of collar 22 operates to tilt member 2| forwardly which, as before explained, serves to bring the teeth of member 24 into engagement with the teeth of gear l8.

The electrical'connections and switching means will be'explainedwith particular reference to Figure 2 of the drawing. A switch designated generally by the character 30 is provided for opening the motor power circuit when the-desired position of shaft I0 has been reached. This switch may comprise a recessed disk 3| of conducting material secured to shaft l0 so as to rotate with this shaft. A frame member 32 adjacent disk 3I-carries'the contacts 'to .46 and contact 48, each arranged to make sliding en-' gagement with disk 3|. Each of contacts 4|] to 46 are adapted to be disengaged from the disk when the recess. 3| a moves into register with it, but contact 48 is adapted for continual engagement. Though contacts 40 to 46 are here shown as 'six in number, .any desired number may be provideo.

One terminal of the motor windings is connected to contact 48, and contacts 40 to 46 are connected respectively to points 50 to 56 of switch S; the arm of switch S is connected to one side of an electrical energy source 60, the other side of this source being connected to the other terminal of the motor windings. The electromagnet 26 has its winding connected in this samecircuit and in parallel Wlththe motor windings.

To operate this remote control apparatus as for changing the adjustment of a radio receiver to receive on a different frequency, the operator has simply to turn the switch S to the position corresponding with the desiredfrequency, and the control apparatus automatically effects the being controlled. i

trolled device may be effected adjustment of the radio receiver or other device J In Figure 2 of the drawing the switch S is shown on point 53 and the recess 3Ia' of disk 3| is in register with contact 43 which is connected to point 53. If, for example, the operator now turns switch S to point 50, a circuit is completed from source 60 through. point 50 of switchSLI contact 40 of switch 30, through disk 3|, from contact48 to one terminal of 'the motor wind-' l0 lugs and from the other terminal of the motor windings back to the source 60. A circuit is also completed through the windings of magnet 26,

and both motor and magnet are then energized. i 1 1 .15. .down its armature causing collar 22 to be m0vedg.

.Energization of magnet 26 operates to pull rearwardly axially of the shaft I0, and this serves to tilt pivoted member 2| forwardly against the, tension of spring 25 causing member 24 to engage the teeth of gear l8. I

Energization ofthe motor causes the reduction gearing to rotate the drive shaft l1 and gear '18. Since the pivoted member2i has" been movedinto engagement with gear l8 by; magnet 26, gear". [8 drives. the control shaft through member 2| and arm 20. :The disk-3|.

rotates with the control shaft l0, and when the l recess 3la comes into register with contact 40,; i this circuit which-energizes both magnet'and motor is opened. When this occurs,"the motor 1 will not be-further actuated but will continue to rotate due to its'own momentum. The de-en gization of magnet '26 allows the pivoted member 85 2| to tilt backwardly under the pressure o f' the point, and as many adjustments of the connected points on switch S.

" as there are con The clutch mechanism here provided is par-:

ticularly advantageous because of its ease of operation to disconnect the parts while torque isbeing applied. :Several factors contributeto this advantage. It will be seen that the engagement of the clutch members is at a point substariso that the driving force applied againstithe clutch member 24 for a given driving torque isf relatively small.:This is due to the lever action provided by arm 2D'and the radius of gear l8. Also by this arrangement the driving force which is applied against member 24 is itself employed to aid in bringing the clutch members toth'e point of disengagement.

Even neglecting the action of spring 25, the upward thrust against" member 24 due to the engagement withinclined- ,tially removed from the drive and driven shafts" faces of the gear teeth tends to move the clutch members apart. It will be observed that the a clutch engaging parts are notmoved axially of the shaft .into and out of engagement but in stead move perpendicularly of the shaft. intofan'd out of engagement. With the presentco'nstruc tion only a very light spring is needed and avery. small'lightweight magnet is amply suflicient to.

is not-energized the clutch mechanism will not be in engagement and the operator may-easily change the angular position of the control'shaft by turning the handle 68.

While this construction provides manualmeans for moving the control shaft upon power failure, this means can in no way interfere with the automatic control means. If, for example, while the power. source is properly effective, the operator should, through inadvertence or other reason attempt to turn the'handle 68 to some incorrect or unauthorized setting, themotor and electromagnet would be energized and theshaft would be j automatically returned to the authorized position. c

While I have .AOWIl and described a specific construction embodying my invention, it willbe apparent that many changesmay be made in theiform and arrangement thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims'shouldbe construed as' broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a rotatable control shaft and a motor operated drive mechanism, a-

clutch mechanism comprising a gear associated with said drive mechanism, a radially extendin arm attached to said shaft, a member pivotally mounted on said armiand equipped with teeth for engaging the, teeth of said gear, a collar axially slidable along said shaft and engaging saidpivoted. member; and clutch actuating means for moving said collar axially of said shaft to effect engagement and disengagement of said pivoted member with said gear whereby said drive mechanism and control member are mechanically connected and disconnected. I

- 2. In combination with a rotatable driven shaft and a motor operated drive mechanism,

clutch means comprising a gear associated with i said drive mechanism, an axially slidable collar on said shaft, an element adapted to be moved into clutching engagement with the periphery of said gear upon actuation of said collar, and

electric motor, clutch means comprising a rotatmounted to, slide axially with respect to said riphery thereof, a collar mounted to slide axially 5 with respect to said drivingymember, a driven member adapted to'oe moved into clutchingengagement with the periphery of said driving member upon actuation of said collar, and electromagnetic means foractuating said collar.

4. In apparatus of the character described, clutch means comprising a rotatable driving member having a clutching surface on the pe riphery thereof, a collar mounted to slide axially with respect to said driving member, a driven member adapted to be moved into clutching engagement with the periphery of said driving member 'uponactuation of said collar, resilient means normally biasing said driven member out of engagement with said driving member, and electromagnetic means for actuating said collar.

5. In apparatus of the character described, clutch means comprising a rotatable driving member havinga clutching surface on the periphery thereof, a driven shaft, an arm extend ing radially from said shaft, a collar mounted to slide axially with respect to said shaft, a

collar, and electromagnetic means for sliding said 80 collar and pivoting said driven member into clutching engagement with the periphery of said driving member. a

'6. In apparatus of the character described, an

able driving member mechanically connected with said motor and having a clutching surface on the periphery thereof, a driven shaft, an arm extending radially from said shaft, a collar shaft, a driven member pivotally mounted on. said arm and having one end in engagement with said collar, electromagnetic means for sliding said collar and pivoting said driven member into clutching engagement with the periphery of said driving member, and means for simultaneously deenergizing said motor and said electromagnetic means.

RADFORD K. I 'RAZIER. 

